NEMA directs cities, local authorities to end open waste burning

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The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has issued a nationwide stop notice ordering all cities, urban authorities and district local governments to immediately halt the open burning of waste within their jurisdictions.

In a statement released by Head of Corporate Communications Naomi Karekaho on Friday (February 20), NEMA said the directive follows earlier communications reminding local government leaders of their statutory obligations under Uganda’s devolved environmental governance framework.

The environmental watchdog said it has continued to receive numerous public complaints about the persistent burning of garbage in urban centres across the country. These complaints, NEMA noted, have been confirmed by findings from recent environmental monitoring inspections conducted by its officers.

“The observations point to ongoing challenges in waste management, particularly in urban settings, despite the presence of a clear legal and technical framework,” said the authority.

Open burning of waste, a common practice at dumping sites and informal collection points, releases harmful pollutants into the air, including toxic gases and particulate matter.

NEMA warned that prolonged exposure to such emissions increases the risk of respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular disease and other serious health complications, particularly among children, the elderly and people with pre-existing conditions.

The environmental body stressed that the practice is explicitly prohibited under Section 78 of the National Environment Act, which outlaws pollution of the environment in any form.

Acting under powers granted by Section 10 of the Act, NEMA has directed all responsible entities to immediately stop the open burning of waste and to institute continuous awareness and sensitisation programmes targeting staff, waste handlers and communities on proper waste management practices.

Individuals or institutions that continue engaging in open burning will face enforcement measures provided for under the law, including administrative fines, restoration orders, closure of offending facilities and prosecution for environmental offences.

“Continued violation not only endangers public health and the environment but will attract stringent legal consequences without exception,” cautioned NEMA.

Waste management remains a core mandate of cities, urban authorities and district local governments. Under Uganda’s decentralised governance system, local governments are responsible for ensuring proper collection, transportation and disposal of solid waste in their areas.

However, rapid urbanisation, limited funding, inadequate infrastructure and growing waste volumes have strained many municipalities, leading to the continued use of open burning as a quick and low-cost disposal method.

Environmental activists have long criticised the practice, arguing that it undermines national efforts to promote sustainable waste management, including recycling, composting and sanitary landfilling. They say stronger enforcement and investment in modern waste management systems are urgently needed.

NEMA said it will intensify compliance monitoring across the country to ensure adherence to the directive. Inspectors will carry out spot checks and follow-up assessments, and any entity found in breach will face immediate enforcement action.

The authority reiterated that the legal framework on waste management is clear and that ignorance of the law will not be accepted as a defence.

It also ​emphasised that protecting the environment is a shared responsibility, but that local authorities bear primary accountability for managing waste within their jurisdictions.